The Northern Mountains

I can write a letter of introduction and provide a few small samples for you to send to your people. Perhaps that will help with both sides gaining an understanding of what the other has to offer. He asks more questions about the resources that could be traded for as talks a bit about the logistics of the trade arrangements before being called away to resolve a local issue. He leaves you in the care of the captain for the rest of the day, promises lodgings for the night and to talk again after the evening meal.

Captain Klixinigian asserts that the griffin riders are welcome to the area but suggest having them land outside the valley to avoid potential misunderstandings until a better understanding and arrangements can be made. While the village does have some trained hounds of considerable size that the scouts use he is interested in the prospect of flying mounts though possibly something smaller than a griffin he muses and wonders at the possibility of hiring your team and the griffins to help with securing some giant eagle eggs.

Klix guides you back out of the small stronghold. The rest of the building is built for people of gnomish stature but the hall you talked with Longhelm in was build tall enough for any of the races of the people you have heard of. Once outside he offers to show you around the valley or take you to the scout station to talk with their leader as they are more familiar with the area around the valley.

We definately should.

agreed!

After getting some food and rest you feel pretty good but are realizing that the higher elevations the gnomes live at are quite cool in the evenings and down right frigid at night. So you offer to handle mapping more of the lower reaches for them. This should also make future trade easier with a well known trade route. The next day you are escorted from the valley by a couple of the gnomish rangers. They often ride on mountain goats as they roam the surrounding area but to make it easier the two that accompany you go on foot for after you all get a ride to the edge of the well known area to one side of the path you took to get up here from the ravine.

This section of the mountains is much rougher and the scouts comment that even the goats have trouble with some of the gaps and cliff faces in the area. Fortunately both of the gnomes brough extra rope and climbing gear should you need to descend.



The hiking is rough and you all begin to feel the strain of the steep slopes on your legs and are grateful when you stop on a bed of needles from some highland trees. As the scouts are updating the map you review what you have leaned. So far there have only been signs of small animals though you are positive larger ones are about as well. You have been heading towards a river that cuts through these mountains. The gnomes located it years ago but have not had cause to thoroughly investigate the region. But now with the extra manpower your group represents they are eager to learn more. A water supply is more likely to attract a variety of creatures. They are not interested in facing off but would like to know what might lurk here as bad seasons can often cause shifts in hunting ranges or even migrations.

After lunch you set out again and by late afternoon you can spot the river cutting through a prominent cliff and falling to run through the bottom of a large valley. The gnomish scout say they have avoided the valley so do not know what to expect down in it. They can either ranger ahead or to either side of your party as you make your way down into and explore the valley. Thick woods cover much of the lower reaches of the valley but the higher slopes could hold many caves with unknown beasts or monsters within. The scouts indicate that you do not need to find and defeat anything and hope that sign of whatever lives here can easily be found near the river but are open to your own ideas for how to explore the valley.

I'm back

You make it down the cliff without incident though those on guard do notice a small flock of some kind drift your way before dissapearing behind one of the surrounding peaks. Down in the valley you begin your exploration.

The main features of the valley are the rocky walls, the thick forrest, and river. The edges of the valley are strewn wiht bolders and rough rocky formations with plenty of caves and crevices. The woods are thin at the higher edges but get thicker with only ocasional glades or clearing. The river enters the valley as a waterfall, creating an contant rumble with ocasional whisps of mist blown throughout the valley as the strong highland winds snatch it from the cloud surrounding the waterfall base.
The river runs through the woods, till it exits at the low end of the valley.

The scouts are most interested in the woods but express concerns about the possibility of creatures lairing within the caves along the valley edges. They suggest moving along the edges of the woods and rocky valley perimiter hoping to survey both regions.

Let me know where you would like to explore. As usual add detail and rolls as appropriate.